Wetlands grants headed to Valley

Wednesday

Mar 24, 2010 at 12:01 AM

Three projects that will restore and protect more than 14,000 acres of wetland, riparian and upland habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife in the San Joaquin Valley will receive $3 million in grants under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

Peter Ottesen

Three projects that will restore and protect more than 14,000 acres of wetland, riparian and upland habitats for migratory birds and other wildlife in the San Joaquin Valley will receive $3 million in grants under the North American Wetlands Conservation Act.

The projects were approved for funding March 10 by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission. Partners in these efforts will contribute an additional $6 million in non-federal matching funds.

Among the three projects, each receiving $1 million in funding, is the Mid-Valley Wetland Habitat Project in Merced County, which will be matched by $2,010,634 from the state Wildlife Cosnrvation Board and private landowners to protect, restore and enhance 6,712 acres of habitat within the 180,000-acre Grassland Ecological Area. The other projects are located in the Tulare Basin in the southern San Joaquin Valley. Information: fws.gov/birdhabitat/Grants/NAWCA/Standard/US/2010_March.shtm.

Members of the Delta Fly Fishers invite the public to learn how to tie flies and to fly cast at 6:30 p.m., Wednesdays at the Nature Center at Oak Grove Park, located near the corner of Interstate 5 and Eight Mile Road. Sessions are free. The exception is the second Wednesday of each month when the club has its monthly meeting. There is a $5 vehicle parking fee. Information: Joe Balderston, (209) 649-0291; Jim Rich, (209) 477-6404.

Sprawling Shasta Lake, with more than 365 miles of shoreline (greater than San Francisco Bay), a thousand campsites, 21 launch ramps and more than 30 marinas with 400 rental houseboats, is expected to be at 94 percent of capacity by May.

Nearby Camanche Lake is 76 percent full (115 percent of normal for this time of year) and offers more than 50 miles of shoreline, two marinas, cabins, campsites and a trophy trout fishery.

New Melones Lake, with 100 miles of shoreline at capacity, is 54 percent full (slightly above average for this time of year). The impoundment boasts the Mother Lode's best black bass fishing, having yielded a lake-record 18.11 pounder on March 20. Information: Shasta Lake, (530) 275-1589; Camanche Lake, (209) 763-5166; (209) 763-5915; New Melones Lake (209) 536-9094.

Byron Velvick of Del Rio, Texas, a West Coast transplant, won the second event of the 2010 Bassmaster Elite Series at Clear Lake on March 18-21.

Velvick brought 20 black bass to the scales during the four-day tournament, totaling 98 pounds, 6 ounces, nearly a 5-pound per bass average. He used a seven-inch Rago BV 3D swimbait in shallow water to win the event by more than 5 pounds over his nearest competitor, Bill Lowen of North Bend, Ohio.

Skeet Reese of Auburn, who finished second in the "Duel in the Delta" earlier this month, came in fifth at Clear Lake with a catch of 85 pounds, 3 ounces. Full results: bassmaster.com.